Surname McCarle - Meaning and Origin
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McCarle: What does the surname McCarle mean?
The last name McCarle is of Scottish origin and is known to be associated with the ancient Dalriadan clans of the Scottish Highlands. The surname is derived from the Gaelic form, ‘Mac Ghillechallum’, which translates to ‘son of the servant of St. Fillan.’
St. Fillan was an Irish Missionary who founded the monastery at Kilfillan in Perthshire, Scotland around 840 AD. His name later came to signify a figure of strength, courage, and honor, which is where the surname originates.
The surname McCarle can be found in various locations throughout Scotland, with the most notable being the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow. It has also been linked to the remote areas of Argyll where the original residents fled after being persecuted during the Highland Clearances of the late 1700s.
The McCarle surname is a proud reflection of Scotland’s history and the courage of generations of Scots who have been willing to fight and defend their homeland. To this day, the name bears an air of strength, courage and honor in Scotland and many McCarle’s still bear the ancient name proudly.
Order DNA origin analysisMcCarle: Where does the name McCarle come from?
The McCarle surname is most commonly found today in the United States and Canada. The name is likely derived from an Irish spelling of the Gaelic-origin surnames from the old Gaelic Mac Giolla Airce. This ancestral name was likely derived from "the devotee of the elk".
In the United States the name can be found in multiple states including Pennsylvania, New York, Minnesota and Michigan. In Canada, the name can be found most notably in Ontario, an Ontario Neighboring Province and British Columbia.
In Pennsylvania, the name was likely borne by the earliest settlers in Bucks County, near Philadelphia. Later they can be found living in areas such as Allegheny County, York County and Northumberland County. In New York, the name can be found in Long Island. It is likely the name was carried there in the 19th or early 20th century by immigrants form Pennsylvania.
The prevalence of the McCarle surname in Canada is likely a result of an early Irish or Scotch Irish settlement in Niagara, Ontario in the late 18th century. This settlement was largely composed of people who were originally from the Pennsylvania and New York colonies in the U.S.
Regardless of its origins, today the name of McCarle is scattered throughout Canada and the United States, a testament to the settlement of an early immigrant group and to the endurance of the name.
Variations of the surname McCarle
The surname McCarle (also spelled McCarles, McClarles and MacCarles) is of Scottish origin and originally derived from the Gaelic Macarailt. It is a patronymic name meaning ‘son of Carl’. The Carl in question could be from the Old Norse personal name Karl, or from the Old Irish Cearbhall which means ‘free man’.
Variants of the name can include McArthur, MacCarl, MacCarlie, MacCarren, Macarle, Macarleo, Macarley, Macarlie, Macarle, Macarley, Maccarley and Maciarleo.
Surnames that are related to McCarle include MacKerrell, MacBarley, MacBirley, MacBurl, MacKerrill, MacKerl, MacKelch, Machell, Macerall and MacJarl.
In America, the variant of the name is spelled differently, often as Carle, Charle, Carli, Carly, Carlee, Charlee and Charli. It could also appear as Carles, Charles, Carlis, Carlie, Carlis, Carlisle, Carls, Carlton or Carlysle.
Other variants include Carlay, Carlen, Carlin, Carling, Carlon, Carol, Carolan, Caroll, Carrell, Carrie, Carrol, Carrolan and Carsen.
In some cases, the name may have even been changed to George when the emigrants left Scotland and took on a more ‘English sounding’ name.
Famous people with the name McCarle
- Larry McCarle, former NFL Defensive End
- Jordan McCarle, Paralympic Athlete
- Kevin McCarle, practice-winning Irish cyclo-cross racer
- Cody McCarle, professional snowboarder
- Ross McCarle, National Rugby League player
- Alana McCarle, Actor
- Alex McCarle, Painter
- Bill McCarle, Writer and Poet
- Johnny McCarle, Football Commentator
- Toby McCarle, Music Producer